🔍 Key Concepts
• Metacenter (M) vs center of gravity (G) and what metacentric height (GM) represents
• The difference between stable, unstable, and neutral equilibrium in ship stability
• How a vessel behaves after a small heel (roll) if GM is positive, negative, or zero
💭 Think About
• Think about what metacentric height (GM) equals when the heights of M and G are the same. How big is GM in that situation?
• If GM has that value, will the ship tend to return to upright, capsize further, or simply stay at the new heeled angle when given a small disturbance?
• Match that behavior to the definitions of stable, unstable, and neutral equilibrium.
✅ Before You Answer
• Calculate conceptually: GM = KM − KG. If KM (height of M) equals KG (height of G), what is GM?
• Review: with positive GM, what type of equilibrium do you have? With negative GM, what type? What’s left when GM is exactly zero?
• Picture a small push to heel the vessel: does it develop a restoring moment, an overturning moment, or no moment at all? Match that to the correct choice.